Counseling Services
I have created a flexible practice to meet the needs of my clients, offering either in-person or virtual sessions. However, I do prefer first-time clients have an initial in-person meeting to properly establish a connection for more productive future sessions. Sessions tend to last 50 minutes to one hour, yet I offer the flexibility to extend the sessions when necessary.
My practice provides services to adolescents, emerging adults, adults, couples and families.
These distinct groups require a separate, tailor-made approach to therapy.
Emerging Adults
Individual Counseling
Couples & Family Counseling
Emerging Adults
Emerging adulthood is defined by the American Psychological Association as “a developmental stage that is neither adolescence nor young adulthood, but is theoretically and empirically distinct from them both, spanning the late teens through the twenties, with a focus on ages 18-25.”
Typical characteristics include:
Residential instability: frequently moving while attending college, and/or cohabitating with friends or significant others
Unsure of personal identity: discovering who they are and what they want in terms of career, relationships and education
Focus on personal identity: the process of navigating post-parental influence and transitioning towards the future influences of career, marriage and children
Feelings of “in-between”: the feeling of being responsible for oneself, but not at the level of a normative adult
Feeling optimistic: many individuals in this stage have feelings they will live better than their parents in terms of a more meaningful, well-paid career, as well as having a positive relationship with a significant other
Individual Counseling
Individual counseling involves the counselor meeting one-on-one with a client to treat emotional,
psychological or behavioral issues. There are many types of therapy to address an individual’s concerns.
Practices I often incorporate include:
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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
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Emotionally Focused
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Motivational Interviewing
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Interpersonal
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Compassion Focused
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Mindfulness-Based
Couples & Family Counseling
This therapy is geared towards partners and family members struggling with conflict and disconnection. When approaching counseling, clients are often feeling drained and exhausted by relationships with partners or family members. They may feel a loss of connection with their family and/or partner. Couples exist as though they are “going through the motions” and living with a roommate rather than living with a loved one. The experience can be disheartening and lead to extreme loneliness.
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My role is to guide in the process of discussing concerns and obstacles in a productive manner rather than retreating to old routines and arguments. In order to regain healthy relationships, it’s important to address behaviors that led to avoidance, and reverse unhealthy patterns to promote healing and healthy communication. I will also focus on strengths of your relationship and how to build upon what is good.
A healthy relationship requires a person to:
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Balance the needs of the individual and needs of the couple or family
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Develop tools for improved communication and listening skills, connectivity sensitivity, and the ability to understand personal needs and growth
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Become aware of the needs of individuals in the dynamic and make appropriate choices to meet those needs.
Commonly Diagnosed
Behavioral & Emotional Issues
Anxiety
This issue is commonly diagnosed with feelings of being unsettled, worried, anxious, stressed or overwhelmed by everyday life. Anxiety may impact one’s ability to perform simple daily tasks, complete work, and cope with relational expectations. It is also associated with frequent worry about other people’s perceptions and judgment and prevent authentic connections and relationships. It may result in unrealistic standards of perfection to feel accepted. Chronic anxiety is both frustrating and exhausting, eroding the self-worth of the individual suffering.
There are many possible causes of anxiety, unique to each individual and their life situation. Common causes are work, school, relationship conflicts, financial stress, personal loss, serious illness, or a side effect of medication.
Symptoms of anxiety may include:
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Inability to relax
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Difficulty concentrating or focusing
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Trouble falling asleep or remaining asleep
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Hot flashes
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Recognizing the anxiety is too intense compared to the situation
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Being easily startled
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Racing thoughts
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Dry mouth
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Fatigue
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Chronic irritability
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Feeling the need to urinate frequently
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Headaches and muscle tension
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Sweating, trembling, twitching, and breathlessness
Depression
Depression may be considered a catch-all praise to describe feeling blue or sad. Depressive disorder, however, interferes with daily life and functioning. When it becomes a serious illness, therapy is beneficial.
Possible causes of depression include:
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Physical, mental, or emotional abuse
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Relationship conflicts
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Loss of a loved one
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Major life events – marriage, divorce, career change, relocation, etc.
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Social isolation
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Serious illness
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Substance abuse
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Genetic predisposition
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Medications
Symptoms of depression may include:
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Insomnia or sleeping too much
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Difficulty concentrating, remembering details or making decisions
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Feelings of hopelessness
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Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
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Negative thoughts
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Overeating or loss of appetite
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Irritability, aggression, or anger
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Lack of interest in former activities, hobbies, or relationships
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Increase in alcohol, substance consumption and/or reckless behavior
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Thoughts of suicide
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When severe depressive disorder is left untreated, symptoms often worsen and last for greater periods of time, even years. These symptoms may cause unmanageable misery and lead to suicidal behavior. The inability to recognize the symptoms of depression and need for treatment is the greatest obstacle to recovery.
Communication Issues
Strong communication skills are a necessary tool for positive functioning in all aspects of one’s life. It affects interpersonal relationships, social interactions, and educational and workplace performance. Listening and communicating properly is a developed skill and can always be improved.
My treatment includes developing the tools necessary for improving relationships by strengthening communication skills and understanding social cues. Therapy can help navigate through destructive patterns that have impeded healthy communication.
Self-Esteem
Self-esteem is the confidence we have in our value and abilities, how we perceive our place in the world, and how we believe others value us. Self-esteem is an essential component to personal and professional success. Too little self-esteem can result in feelings of depression
and defeat. A lack of self-esteem may also lead unhealthy choices as it relates to personal goals and relationships. Conversely, positive self-esteem provides the ability to adapt and succeed under challenging circumstances and allows for personal growth.
My therapeutic technique helps steer clients through periods of negative thoughts and self-
doubt while providing resources to build and maintain positive self-esteem.
Life Transitions
We often consider development and growth in terms of childhood, but developmental stages occur throughout our lives. Life transitions include starting and finishing school, changing jobs or careers, marriage and childbirth, divorce and re-marriage, retirement, and relocation, among
many others. Such transitions can be exciting, but can also cause stress and overwhelming emotions, leading to anxiety and/or depression.
Therapy can help uncover the source of emotions associated with change and offer tools to make positive decisions moving forward.
Stress management
Emotional, physical, and environmental stress, whether real or perceived, is the foundation of the majority of behavioral and mental health issues. Chronic stress affects daily functioning on every level. Managing stress refers to a variety of techniques geared towards alleviating reactions to stress and are tailored to the individual’s needs. These techniques focus on physical effects of stress manifested in work and home life, as well as overall health.
My therapy focuses on identifying the client’s primary stressors and developing the proper techniques to both manage and minimize their impact.
Parenting Skills
Parental-Child Relations Blended Family:
Parenting is one of the most rewarding yet difficult experiences one may face in their lifetime. Whether parenting as a traditional married couple, single parenting, co-parenting after a break- up or divorce, or navigating a blended family situation, relational challenges abound with every unique situation. All parties involved desire and require love, respect, acceptance and trust. A family’s environment and situational circumstances affect behaviors and may diminish loving relationships.
My therapeutic approach to family issues focuses on healthy communication, cohesive goals and consistency, expectations, boundaries, and discipline within the home. It’s designed to strengthen relationships by evaluating the origins of friction and developing strategies to rebuild those bonds.
Women’s Issues
Women take on many roles with multiple expectations, such as daughter, sister, mother, or friend. While the role of a women should seem naturally defined, societal complexities and individual circumstances can easily cloud perceptions and feelings. Women have increasingly been forced to wear many hats, endure the pressure to meet needs from all directions and resist the temptation to give up. Prioritizing and setting boundaries become essential to women’s health. Reclaiming individuality among these expectations and re-establishing goals
and interest’s is a healthy step towards actualizing one’s true self.
My treatment approach assists women in coming to terms with their unique issues and helps them seek the support needed to improve their daily health and mental well- being.
Conflict Resolution
Another common form of distress to individuals seeking therapy is conflict with partners, siblings, friends or colleagues. Therapy can help examine the conflict and identify possible solutions, while processing the underlying emotional and mental components.
My treatment aims to preserve the integrity of the relationship while alleviating the distress.